Sleep-mediated impact of physical exercise training on metabolic health, mood, and well-being of type II diabetes subjects in Uppsala county

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most important public health challenges of this century.

A rise type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), characterized by insulin resistance, is responsible for the alarming rate of this condition. In Sweden, T2DM corresponds to 85-90 % of the diabetic population.

Those patients also suffer from diverse comorbidities like sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, impaired immunity, cardiovascular issues, or musculoskeletal complications that directly affect health status and well-being.

T2DM and its comorbidities also significantly impact well-being and socioeconomic factors, e.g. contributing to early retirement.Lifestyle interventions (e.g. diet & exercise) are central to improve health in T2DM.

Exercise per se induces the release of several factors that improve cognition and mood status, potentially through improved sleep & tissue metabolism.

Nonetheless, several randomized controlled trials have shown conflicting results of the exercise to improve the general quality of life, depression and anxiety symptoms, or emotional well-being in people with T2DM.

Investigations are therefore warranted to clarify how exercise can improve T2DM outcomes, and whether disease aspects modulate the effects of exercise.Here we propose a well-controlled exercise intervention study with sleep-focused self-rated & objective analyses to assess outcomes in quality of life and well-being, and biomarkers of cognitive, sleep, and metabolic health.

Cardiovascularly fit T2DM subjects (age 30-70) will undergo 4-week interventions: walking vs. moderate exercise (daily ergometer cycling, 30 minutes).

All parameters will be evaluated at baseline & post-intervention, and compared between and within groups, also for age and female vs. male sex.

Our project will yield insight into how exercise – a key lifestyle factor – can promote health and well-being through improved sleep in those afflicted by diabetes, one of today’s greatest public health issues.